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Papers of the Week


Papers: 16 Mar 2019 - 22 Mar 2019


Animal Studies


2019 May 08


Neuron


102


3

Editor's Pick

Pain-induced negative affect is mediated via recruitment of the nucleus accumbens kappa opioid system.

Authors

Massaly N, Copits BA, Wilson-Poe AR, Hipólito L, Markovic T, Yoon H J, Liu S, Walicki MC, Bhatti DL, Sirohi S, Klaas A, Walker BM, Neve R, Cahill CM, Shoghi KI, Gereau RW, McCall JG, Al-Hasani R, Bruchas MR, Morón JA
Neuron. 2019 May 08; 102(3):564-573.e6.
PMID: 30878290.

Abstract

Negative affective states affect quality of life for patients suffering from pain. These maladaptive emotional states can lead to involuntary opioid overdose and many neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Uncovering the mechanisms responsible for pain-induced negative affect is critical in addressing these comorbid outcomes. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, which integrates the aversive and rewarding valence of stimuli, exhibits plastic adaptations in the presence of pain. In discrete regions of the NAc, activation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) decreases the reinforcing properties of rewards and induces aversive behaviors. Using complementary techniques, we report that in vivo recruitment of NAc shell dynorphin neurons, acting through KOR, is necessary and sufficient to drive pain-induced negative affect. Taken together, our results provide evidence that pain-induced adaptations in the kappa opioid system within the NAc shell represent a functional target for therapeutic intervention that could circumvent pain-induced affective disorders.